Letter 157: Chrysostom praises bishops from the West for their long journey on behalf of church correction.

Even before this we were amazed at your zeal and readiness for the correction of the churches. Now we are still more amazed, because you have added a long journey, cast aside all hesitation, and traveled so far with the courage proper to you. We do not cease thanking you, both by letters and without letters. Nor are we alone in this. All throughout the East people admire your unbending firmness and your warm love. They become heralds of your endurance, because you have not spared yourselves for the sake of the churches. Continue until the work reaches the proper end. The road has been long, but the reward is longer still. Let us know about your health and about what has been done, so that we too may share your joy from this wilderness.

ΡΝΖʹ. Ἐπισκόποις ἐλθοῦσιν ἀπὸ τῆς ∆ύσεως. Καὶ ἔμπροσθεν μὲν ἐξεπληττόμεθα ὑμῶν τὴν σπουδὴν, τὴν προθυμίαν τὴν ὑπὲρ τῆς διορθώσεως τῶν Ἐκκλησιῶν γεγενημένην, τὴν στεῤῥὰν καὶ γνησίαν διάθεσιν, τὴν ἀνδρείαν καὶ ἀπερίτρεπτον γνώμην, τὴν καρτερίαν, ἣν ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ἐπεδείξασθε χρόνον. Μάλιστα δὲ ἐξεπλάγημεν νῦν τὸν πολὺν ὑμῶν τόνον, οὕτω μακρὰν καὶ διαπόντιον ἀποδημίαν ἑλομένων, καὶ πόνων καὶ ἱδρώτων γέμουσαν, ὑπὲρ τῶν ταῖς Ἐκκλησίαις συμφερόντων. Καὶ ἐβουλόμεθα μὲν καὶ ἐπιστέλλειν συνεχῶς, καὶ τὴν ὀφειλομένην τῇ εὐλαβείᾳ ὑμῶν ἀποδιδόναι πρόσρησιν. Ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ τοῦτο οὐκ ἔνι σχεδὸν γὰρ ἄβατον τοῖς πολλοῖς οἰκοῦμεν χωρίον, ἐρημίᾳ πάντοθεν ἀποτετειχισμένον, νῦν ἐπιλαβόμενοι τοῦ κυρίου μου τοῦ τιμιωτάτου καὶ εὐλαβεστάτου πρεσβυτέρου, προσαγορεύομεν ὑμῶν τὴν ἀγάπην, καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν τοῖς προοιμίοις συμβαῖνον ἐπιθεῖναι τέλος. Ἴστε γὰρ ὅσος ὑμῖν ἔσται τῆς ὑπομονῆς ὁ μισθὸς, καὶ ὅσαι παρὰ τοῦ φιλανθρώπου Θεοῦ αἱ ἀντιδόσεις ὑπὲρ τῆς κοινῆς εἰρήνης πονουμένοις, καὶ τοσοῦτον ἀναδεχομένοις ἀγῶνα.